BVC-CHAT Another Winderful Ride

[Riggs, David]

Matt, those tri-geeks could have been going on a run after the ride.
That could explain the constant fueling. I agree that you don't need
that much fuel (snickers, moonpies, cliff bars,  skittles, etc.) if it's
just a bike ride. I generally only bring food on rides of 3 hours or
more. Water / Gatorade-mix suffices for those shorter rides.

 

Ryan, one thing you have to consider is how long you've been riding.
Just keep building that aerobic base and you won't be suffering on those
longer rides soon enough. A lot of us have been riding for years and
know what our body needs for whatever condition. I've seen several
riders in your situation go on to become very strong riders. They built
that aerobic base and eventually would hang for the sprints. You just
have to keep at it.

 

Dave

 

From: bvc-chat-bounces at philebus.tamu.edu
[mailto:bvc-chat-bounces at philebus.tamu.edu] On Behalf Of Matthew
Hattaway
Sent: Saturday, January 05, 2008 1:07 AM
To: Brazos Valley Cyclists
Subject: Re: BVC-CHAT Another Winderful Ride

 

Almost anyone should be able to do well over two hours on stored fuel.
You really dont need as much food as a lot think they do.
A few weeks a go there were some tri-guys and at DK's gas in Caldwell
first they were trying to buy power gels or GU's or something because
they were worried they didnt have enough to make it back to CS. Yes, it
is very good to to stay fueled, but you on rec rides, even if it is
"race paced" at times you dont have to keep your tanks toped off, you
only have to not run on empty and a Snickers and a Gatorade is more than
enough to tide you over. I've done the Caldwell ride with NOTHING (I was
running late and had to skip breakfast) in the way of calories, just
water in the bottles and go baby. I dont suggest doing it on purpose but
its not that big  of a deal. I got a milk at Dk's and was good to go. J.
Vaughters ( of Slipstream) suggests doing a work out then NOT eating
enough kcals to replace those lost then the next day do the work out
again so you bonk. then you eat only enough to recover to train your
body  (and your head) to do with out external food and to use its fats
and save its glycogen. He is careful to say this is not a weight loss
work out.

I think my point is three fold.
1: Dont get hung up on the details of  "X Kcals every y Km at Z HR"
2: Dont get hung up on "bike food", A Snickers is better tasting and a
lot cheaper  ( and I'll argue a more complete food) than a Gel.
3: Listen to your body, stress it but you have to listen so you dont
break it. If you are racing you need to know "yeah, my legs feel like
they could fall off about now, but I know they'll keep going" 

You say "It's all about the power to weight ratio."
I say only if your climbing it it all about watts/Kg. When on the flats
it watts/frontal area and when sprinting it all about the kilowatts.
A few years back I got my weight to about 75Kg, I was kinda fast but I
began to creep up and now weigh about 80Kg and I am SO much faster it
silly.
I can fly on a sprint, cant do real climbs but can TT so so. Weight is
about what kind of riding you want to do and what your body wants to do.
I would love to be 75Kg again if I could keep my watts, but I cant and
my body doesnt like being so light, so I'm 80Kg and hang on to my watts.

I'm going to sleep now,

Matt the "ready for track season" Hatt

 

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